political apathy

It’s shocking how quickly I’ve stopped following political news and reverted back to my usual perusing of arts and letters daily and crafting websites. Shouldn’t I be more interested in politics now that a new administration is about to begin? Shouldn't I be more interested in following the news after all my rambling about the fact that our duties as a citizen do not end with just voting?

I wonder if my sudden drop in interest could be related to a sense of disenfranchisement from the political process. (Disenfranchisement—now that’s a melodramatic word). I voted for a few elected officials back in November, but now I seem to be out of the process, and without much power or say. Everyday, the headlines scroll by with Obama’s new picks for his cabinet, and I become aware that I do not have much ability as a citizen to influence his decisions.

It is to a much lesser degree, the same frustration I feel towards City Council’s decision to approve the zoning to build a casino in the Gallery in Philadelphia despite significant resident and city-wide protest. (Asian Americans United, Casino-Free Philadelphia and Chinese Christian Church and Center are all major organizers). And then there is an even greater frustration concerning Pennsylvania state’s decision to force Philadelphia to accept casinos. There’s a sense that decisions are made by important people in closed rooms and no matter how much protest and how many people hit the streets, nothing will change. Of course, history has proven that in many cases, community organizing has been effective at bringing about change (Montgomery bus boycott anyone?). But I find myself wishing there was a more direct and effective way of influencing the choices that affect us.

Or perhaps an easier explanation would be to say that I am so easily taken in by the spectacle of the election campaign, but not fully engaged yet to be interested in actual government policies, decisions and legislation.

Meanwhile, Canada’s government is going through some turmoil of its own. There’s a rather clear explanation on this knitter’s website.